Collapsible crate.



No. 835,733. I PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906. J. G. PENROD.

v GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED 0011.10. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Witneano JAMES G. PENROD, OF HARRISBURG, ILLINOIS.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed October 10.1905.- Serial Nor 282,161.

T0 0% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES G. PENROD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Saline and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to collapsible crates, and more particularly to devices of this character adapted for shipping poultry.

The object of the invention is to provide a crate which can be readily collapsed into a compact bundle and secured with the parts in such position so as to be conveniently transported from place to place and occupy a minimum space.

Another object is to provide novel means for bracing the walls when the crate is-set up and for locking said walls in such position.

WVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crate. Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a section on line :10 m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the crate collapsed; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one corner of the bottom of the crate, showing by dotted lines the position assumed by one of the end strips of an end wall when the crate is set up.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference', 1 is the bottom of a crate, provided with flanges 2 at the ends thereof and flanges 3 and 4 at opposite sides. Flanges 2 and 3 are of the same height, whereas flange 4 extends above the other flanges a distance equal to the thickness of one of the walls of the crate. The ends of flanges 2 are recessed within their inner faces, as shown at 5, and extending into these recesses are end strips 6, which are secured to the bottom 1 by means of hinges 7. These end strips are equal to or less than onehalf the length of the bottom 1 and are connected by slats 8, which, with the end strips 6, constitute the end walls of the crate. The side walls consist of end strips 9 and slats 10, connecting them, the lower slat of each side wall being connected to the adj oining flange 3 or 4 by means of hinges 11. A stop-block 12 is fastened to each end strip 9 and projects into the path of the strips 6 of the end walls, so that when the side walls 10 are in upright positions and the end Walls are swung outward they will come into contact with the stop-blocks 12 and will be held thereby at right angles to the bottom 1: To the side walls are hinged cover-sections 13 and 14, and the section 13 is formed of end strips 15, connected by slats 16, and these end strips have locking-strips 17 depending from them and adapted when the cover-section 13 is in place upon the set-up crate to overlap the inner face of the end walls and prevent them from swinging inward toward each other. The other cover-section 14 is also formed of slats which are secured to crossstrips 18, which strips, however, are secured under the slats and lie within the crate when the cover-section is in proper position thereon. Suitable fastening means, such as hinged straps 19, are secured to the cover-section 13. These straps have openings 20 therein adapted to receive keepers 21, extending from the other cover-section 14, and a locking-hook 22 is pivoted on each strap for engaging the keeper. Other keepers 23 are disposed upon the outer face of side flange 3 and are adapted to be engaged by the straps 19 when the crate is collapsed. The locking-hooks 22 are so disposed upon the straps 19 as to be capable'of engaging either of the keepers engaged by the straps. The end flanges 2 have re cesses 24 in their upper edges for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

In collapsing the crate herein described the cover-sections are swung upward on their hinges, and as soon as the section 13 is raised the locking-strips 17 will be lifted out of the paths of the end walls of the crate, and said walls can therefore be swung downward on the bottom 1. The side wall connected to flange 3 is then swung inward, and the width of this wall, together with the width of the cover-section 14, connected to it, is less than the entire width of the crate, and therefore said wall and its cover-section will lie flat upon theend walls, as shown in Fig. 4. The other side wall and its cover-section 13 are then swung downward into position, and the straps 19 are placed into engagement with the keepers 23. When the parts are in the positions herein described, the stop-blocks 12 will rest within the recesses 24. It will be seen that the crate when collapsed forms a very compact bundle which can be stored in a small space, and therefore transported at a minimum cost. The crate can be easily set up, and as soon as the top section 13 is in position thereon all portions of the crate will be held against collapsing. When in use, the fowls Within the crate can be removed simply by opening the cover-section 14, and the section 13 can be allowed to remain in closed position, so as to hold all of the parts locked.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a collapsible crate the combination with a bottom having side and end flanges extending from the edges thereof; of side walls hinged to the side flanges and adapted to swing inward, stop-blocks upon the inner faces of the side walls at the ends thereof, the end flanges having recesses to receive the blocks upon one side wall when folded, end walls hinged to the bottom, the end strips of which take into recesses in the inner faces of the end flanges whereby when the end walls are raised the slats thereon will be flush with the outer face of the end flanges, and cover sections hinged to the side walls and adapted to rest upon the end walls.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES G. PENROD.

Witnesses:

ORA TUTTLE, J. R. TUTTLE. 

